Detachable retaining means for digging teeth



Sept. 24, 1957 E. LAUNDER 2,807,105

DETACHABLE RETAINING MEANS FOR DIGGING TEETH Filed Jan. 4, 1954 mmvroa Ere/WE L. LAUNDEQ,

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DETACHABLE RETAINING MEANS FOR DIGGING TEETH Ernie L. Launder, Montehello, Calif., assigrror to H. & L. Y Tooth Company, Montebello, Califl, a corporation of California 7 Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 401,753

13 Claims, (Cl..37142) This invention relates to'a detachable retaining means for digging teeth, and relates more particularly to the teeth or points of scarifiers, power operated shovels and ditchers, etc. It is a general object of this invention to provide means for easily detaching digger teeth or points that are used on excavating implements, or machines.

A tooth point of the character under consideration comprises, generally, a plate-like body of hard wearresisting material, adapted to overlie the tooth and project therefrom to form a digging spike, and a housing or box on the body for embracing the tooth and formed of malleable material adapted to be distorted or indented into recesses in the side of the tooth to detachably secure the point to the tooth. This construction is highly effective and satisfactory.

It is an object of this invention to provide improvements in a digging tooth of the character described wherein the tooth remains firm and tight under all conditions of operation, and is also easily detachable so that it can be replaced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a base and removable tooth and a tool, engageable between the base and the tooth, for detaching the tooth from the base.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool for detaching a tooth or point from the tooth base of an excavating machine, and a tool insertable between the tooth and the base for detaching the tooth from the base.

The present invention is characterized by a tooth or base and tooth point, as above described, wherein the base is provided with recesses characterized by annular side walls and a depression concentric with the walls of the recess, forming a shoulder or stepped portion within the recess. By providing a stepped portion the malleable body may be depressed into the recess to engage the annular walls so that it overlies the depression and is spaced from the bottom of the depression. The tool that I have provided is then insertable beneath the malleable housing portion, which overlies the depression in the recess so that the tool may be operated to have a prying action between the bottom wall of the depression and the malleable portion of the housing to deflect and release the housing from the depression.

- The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a typical bucket that may be employed in an excavating machine, or the like. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 2+2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the tool that I have provided in operating position ready to remove the tooth from the base. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showingthe tool operated sothat one side of the tooth is removable from the base.

7 2,807,105 Batented .Sept. 24, .1957

Fig. -6 'is a perspective view of a tooth applied to the base, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tool that I have provided for removing the tooth from the base.

In therdrawings I have illustrated, generally, a bucket Xhaving a plurality of adjacent teeth Y. Each tooth Y involves or includes a base A that projects from the lip or forward edge 14 of the bucket X, a tooth B which is detachably secured to the base A, recesses C in the sides of the base for receiving portions of the tooth so that the tooth is retainedon the base, and a tool D for engaging and removing the tooth B from the base A.

The base A of each tooth Y includes a shank or base 10. The base 10 is substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, having fiat, parallel sides and flat upper and lower surfaces 11 and 12. A reduced part 13 projects forwardly from the forward face or edge 14 of the bucket. The tooth part 13 has flat, generally parallel sides. 15 and flat upper and lower surfaces 16 and 17 that converge outwardly or forwardly. The lower surface 17 of part 13 lies in a plane substantially parallel with the lower surface 12 of the base 10, while the upper surface 16 of the part 13 slopes downwardly and forwardly at an angle relative to the lower surface 12 of the base 10. The indentations or recesses C are provided in the opposite sides 15 of, the tooth parts, as hereinafter described.

Each tooth or point B of the present invention includes, generally, a body 22 forming a spike on the tooth, and a housing or box 23 on the body 22, embracing the tooth part 13. The body 22 is'the active earth engaging member of the tooth point, and as illustrated in the drawings, the body 22 is a plate-like member having flat, parallel upper and lowersurfaces. The body 22 may be rectangular. in plan configuration, having straight,

parallel rear and front ends 24 and 25, and having straight, paraIleLlongitudinal edges. In the preferred construction the body 22 is elongate, being substantially longer than the tooth part 13. The lower side of the body 22 is beveled to be in converging relation to the upper surface of the body adjacent the forward end of the body whereby the forward active edge 25 is sharpened. The tapering or beveling of the under surface of the body 22, as just described, provides the body with a spike portion for actively engaging the work, or earth.

The body 22 is adapted to bear flatly against the upper surface 16 of the tooth part 13, when the cap or point is in position on the tooth. The body 22 is proportioned to extend laterally beyond the opposite sides 15 of the tooth part Band to project a considerable distance forwardly from the tooth part when the point is in the active position on the tooth. Thus, as illustrated in the drawings, the tapered spike portion 22 extends a substantial distance forwardly beyond the tooth part 13.

In accordance with the invention, the body 22 is formed of a hard wear-resisting material to effectively resist the abrasion and wear to which it may be subjected when in operation. In practice, the body 22 may be formed of a steel adapted to be heat treated to a high degree of hardnessand to have the necessary degree of toughness to withstand shock and abrasion during operation. V p

The housing or box 23 is provided to engage or embrace the tooth part 13 to [hold or secure the tooth point in place. The box 23 is applied or secured to one side of the body 22, and is shaped and proportioned to closely engage about the tooth part 13. In the application of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the housing 23 is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section, having spaced side walls 28 and a bottom wall 29, extending between and connecting the side walls 28. The side walls 28 of the box 23 are flat and substantially parallel to lie closely against the sides 15 of the tooth 3 part 13. The housing has a flat bottom 29 that is disposed to lie flat against the lower surface 17 of the tooth part 13. The side walls 28 of the box 23 are substantially triangular in side elevation, and their upper edges 30 slope downwardly and forwardly to engage against the lower surface of the body 22. The box 23 is proportioned to receive substantially the entire tooth part 13 and when the cap or point is in position on the tooth, the inner or rear-end of the body 23 is in spaced adjacent relation to the forward edge 14 of the bucket X.

The body 22 and the housing or box 23 are preferably integrally joined to form a single unit. In the preferred construction a continuous line of welding 33 extends along the upper edges 30 of the box side walls 28 and extends across the forward edge of the bottom wall 29, to rigidly and securely join the box 23 with the body 22. ln the manufacture of the tooth point the body 22 is separately formed and the box 23 may be assembled as described above, and then joined with the body 22 by welding 33 to form a rigid integral unit. The box 23 may be formed of materials that will not take an excessive hardness when the body 22 is heat treated, or of material that may be annealed after the heat treatment of the body.

The indentations or recesses C that I have provided are located in the opposite sides 15 of the tooth parts 13. The recesses C are in the rear portion of the part 13, being spaced a short distance forwardly from the forward end face or edge 14 of the bucket X. The side walls 40 of the recesses C are preferably beveled or tapered, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 to of the drawings.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a depression 41 in each of the recesses C for receiving and for cooperatively engaging with the tool D, hereinafter described, to be used for detaching the tooth from the base. As shown in the drawings, each recess C is round in form and is in the nature of a countersink, or the like, with annular side walls 40. The depression 41 is in the nature of a counterbore, that is concentric with the recess C. The depression 41 is characterized by a shoulder portion 42 and bottom walls 43, which are stepped down or inwardly from the walls 40. In the preferred form of the invention, the walls 40 and 43 are conical and are parallel with each other, and the walls 43 come to the vertex portion at 44.

In order to assemble the point on the tooth base, the unit or point comprising the body 22 and the box 23 is first slid over the wedge-shaped tooth part 13. The point is passed rearwardly or inwardly over the part 13 until the lower surface of the body 22 evenly engages against the upper surface 16 of the part 13, and the upper surface of the bottom wall 29 evenly engages against the lower surface 17 of the part 13. This limits the inward movement of the point on the part 13. The point is then in a position to be secured to the part 13 of the tooth base 10. This is accomplished by distorting or indenting the side walls 28 of the malleable box portion to have indented parts 34 which cooperate with the recesses C.

The indentations or indented parts 34 may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, they may be squeezed or hammered in. The inwardly bent or indented parts 34 are in the nature of projections on the inner sides of the box walls 28 that cooperate with the recesses C to dependably secure the point to the tooth base It). The parts 34 extend over the shoulders 42 formed by the depression in the recesses, so that the portions 34 overlie the bottom walls'43 of the recesses. The indented parts 34 are opposite one another on a transverse axis which is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tooth.

The indented parts 34 cooperating with the recesses C dependably prevent detachment or disengagement of the point from the tooth base part 13. The box portion closely engages the sides and the lower surface 17 of the part 13 to hold or to assist in holding the tooth point against lateral shifting and upward shifting and tilting.

The tooth point of the present invention is such that it may be readily detached from the tooth for replacement or repair, and a means is provided for facilitating the rapid and easy detachment of the tooth from the tooth base A. Heretofore, a tooth of the character under consideration has been removed from the base by outward forcing of the tooth point accompanied by outward bending of the indented parts 34 resulting from engagement of the parts with the inclined walls 40 of the recesses C. Thus, when a tooth is driven from the base the side walls 28 of the malleable box are straightened out. The tool D, that I have provided, operates to effectively pry the portions 34 outwardly in a manner to release the tooth from the base A.

The tool D of my invention is adapted to be inserted into the recess C to act upon the portion 34 to pry the portion away from the base A. The tool D involves, generally, a lever 50 engageable to be operated by the user of the tool, a lip 51 projecting laterally from the lever at the inner end thereof, and engageable to lift the portion 34 away from the base A, and bearing means 52 for cooperating with base A to form a fulcrum for the lever 50. The lever 50 may be a simple, elongate element operable by the person handling the tool. The lip 51 is formed at the inner end of the lever 50 by providing a head 53 at said end, which projects laterally to one side of the lever 50. Lip 51 is preferably a flat, transversely disposed face that faces outwardly from the head 53 at one side of the lever 50. As illustrated, the face 51 is normal to or is at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the lever.

The bearing means 52, that I have provided, cooperates with the recess C to make a fulcrum point for the tool D and involves, or includes, a convexly curved face 54 which extends transversely across the head 53 at the inner end thereof. As shown in the drawings, the face 54 extends from one side of the head and terminates at the edge of the lip at the other side of the head. As shown, the face 54 is arcuate in cross section so that when it engages the face or bottom wall 43 of the depression in the recess C, point contact is made. As shown in the drawings, the lip 51 of the tool D is engageable inside the portion 34 and is operable to pry the portion 34 away from the base A. The shoulder 42 acts to prevent displacement of the head 53 from the depression in the recess C.

T o operate the tool that I have provided to disengage the tooth from the base, the head of the tool is inserted into the depression with the lip 51 of the tool under the portion 34 to be deflected outwardly from the base, and the face 54 in cooperative engagement with the bottom wall 43 of the depression in the recess C. The lever 50 is then operated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 whereupon the face 54 pivots on the bottom wall 43' and the lip 51 lifts the portion 34 away from the base A. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the face 54 has sliding engagement with the bottom wall 43.

In the preferred form of the invention and as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the lever 50 is offset so that the tool may be operated between adjacent teeth. A spacer 55 is provided that extends or projects laterally to one side of the head 53. A handle or extension 56 of lever 50 projeects outwardly from the outer end of the spacer 55, and is provided with a suitable grip portion 57 for engagement by the user. The handle 56 may extend in a direction parallel to the arm 50 but, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, is preferably at an angle thereto. As shown, the extension is at a right angle to the lever 50 so that a person operating the tool may do so from the front endof the tooth, as shown throughout the drawings.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but

whereby access is gained in order to lift the said portion from the recess.

2. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a tapered body, recesses in the body, and a tooth point detachably secured to the body and including a housing engageable'over the body and having flat deformable side portions pressed into the recesses, there being a depression in each recess underlying the deformable portion whereby access is gained in order to lift the said portions from the recesses.

3. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a forwardly tapered body with substantially flat parallel side walls, a recess in each side Wall, and a tooth point detachably secured to the body and including a housing with sides lying closely against the said walls and engageable over the body, said housing having flat deformable side portions pressed into the recesses, there being a depression in each recess underlying the deformable portion whereby access is gained in order to lift the said portions from the recesses.

4. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a forwardly tapered body with substantially flat parallel side walls, a recess in each side wall, and a tooth point detachably secured to the body and including a flat, elongate member overlying the body and a housing secured to the member and having flat deformable sides lying closely against the said walls and engageable over the body, portions of said flat sides being pressed into the recesses, there being a depression in each recess underlying the sides of the housing whereby access is gained in order to lift the said portions from the recesses.

5. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a tapered body, a recess in the body, a tooth point detachably secured to the body and including a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, and a tool insertable into the depression in the recess and having a bearing face engageable with the bottom wall and a lip engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess.

6. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a tapered body, a recess in the body, a tooth point detachably secured to the body and inclulding a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, and a tool insertable into the depression in the recess and having a bearing face engageable with the bottom wall and a lip engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess and having an arm projecting from the lip of the tool for manipulation thereof.

7. In combination, an earth digging tooth having a tapered body, a recess in the body, a tooth point detachably secured to the body and including a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, and a tool insertable into the depression in the recess including, an arm, a head at the inner end of the arm engageable in the depression in the recess, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift the portion away from the body, and a bearing face on the head at the inner end of the arm engage- 6 able with the bottom wall of the depression to form a fulcrum for the tool.

8. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, including, a head insertable into the depression in the recess, a bearing face on the head engageable with the bottom wall, and a lip on the headengageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess.

9. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, including, a head insertable into the depression in the recess, a bearing face on the head engageable with the bottom wall, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess, and an arm projecting from the head for manipulation thereof.

10. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, including, an arm, a head at the inner end of the arm engageable in the depression in the recess, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift the portion away from the body, and a bearing face on the head at the inner end of the arm engageable with the bottom wall of the depression to form a fulcrum for the tool.

11. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess underlying the deformable portion, including, a head insertable into the depression in the recess, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess, and a lever projecting from the head including a laterally projecting spacer and a laterally spaced extension projecting from the spacer.

12. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a fiat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, including, a head insertable into the depression in the recess, a bearing face on the head engageable with the bottom wall, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift it from the recess, and a lever projecting from the head including a laterally projecting spacer and a laterally spaced extension projecting from the spacer.

13. A tool for detaching a tooth point from a tooth base, said base having a tapered body and a recess in the body, said point being detachably secured to the body and having a housing engageable over the body and having a flat deformable side portion pressed into the recess, there being a depression in the recess having a bottom wall underlying the deformable portion, including, an arm, a head at the inner end of the arm engageable in the depression in the recess, a lip on the head engageable beneath the deformable portion to lift the portion away from the body, a bearing face on the head at the inner end of the arm engageable with the bottom wall of the depression to form a fulcrum for the tool, and a lever projecting from the head including a laterally projecting spacer and a laterally spaced extension projecting from the spacer.

1,250,180 Huges Dec. 18, 1917 8 Probasco June 22, 1920 g A L 923 Moore Oct. 21,- 1924 Rabezzana 'J nne 30, 1931 Barnes Feb. 23,1932 Hosrner et a1. July '19, 1 938 Hosmer et a1. Aug. 5, 1941 Flower May 22, 1945 Smith July 15, 1952 

